NEW DIG IN SEARCH FOR DISAPPEARED VICTIM JOE
Hopes former monk killed by IRA will be found
A FRESH search for a man abducted and killed by the IRA during the Troubles is to be launched.
Joe Lynskey was a former Cistercian monk who later joined the Provisionals.
He was kidnapped in West Belfast in August 1972 and became known as one of the so-called Disappeared.
Preparatory work will start on Monday to clear a small area of trees in Oristown, Co Meath, with the dig proper beginning within days. The search is being led by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains.
Lead investigator Geoff Knupfer said: “We carried out an extensive search for Joe Lynskey in nearby Coghalstown in Investigators at Co Meath dig in 2015
2015. During that search we found the remains of Seamus Wright and Kevin Mckee but unfortunately we drew a blank in relation to Joe.
“As we do after every unsuccessful search we go back and review all the information we have pulled together to see if there are other lines of inquiry to be pursued.
“That’s what we’ve done in this case and as a result we are going to look at quite a small area of woodland at Oristown near where we found Brendan Megraw in 2014.”
He added they would start work as soon as the land is cleared of trees and forensic archaeologists can begin.
Mr Knupfer said: “We anticipate that this will not be a long search either way.
“The Lynskey family have been informed and they know only too well there is no guarantee of success but we will continue to do everything we can.”
The Disappeared consists of 16 people abducted and secretly buried by republicans in the 1970s and 1980s.
The remains of 13 have been recovered however, the final three – Mr Lynskey, Columba Mcveigh who was kidnapped in 1975 and British soldier Captain Robert Nairac, taken in South Armagh and killed by the IRA in 1977 – have never been found. Mr Knupfer appealed for information on the remaining cases, saying: “Any information provided to the ICLVR is held in complete confidence and can only be used for the location of the Disappeared and cannot be shared with other agencies for any other purpose.
“Anyone with information on any of the outstanding cases should contact the ICLVR on 00800 555 85500 by writing to ICLVR, PO Box 10827, Dublin 2 or via the website www.iclvr.ie.”
The family have been informed and know there is no guarantee of success GEOFF KNUPFER
LEAD INVESTIGATOR YESTERDAY